Ryerson Art+Design Magazine (RADmag) was born out of a vision to create a medium of celebration, inspiration, and collaboration — to celebrate and showcase the work of students in Photography, Fashion, and Interior Design, to provide an outlet to inspire one another and the world at large, and aid in connecting students in these related visual disciplines.

I know what you’re thinking, spring just started and all you want to do is sit outside and soak up the sun before it disappears again. But I can promise you this - spring is here to stay - and you want your wardrobe to be ready. From one former clothing hoarder to another…everything is going to be alright.

Let’s be real, we’ve all had those conversations in our heads, convincing ourselves we’ll find a use (one day!) for that faux leather skirt we purchased seasons ago - located in the depths of your closet with the tag still attached. Luckily, spring brings a perfect opportunity to say goodbye to the piles of knits that take up residency in the corner of our rooms - the first step to embracing a clutterless life.

It’s important to dedicate at least a couple of hours and go through all of the godforsaken corners of your closet. If you haven’t worn a piece in over a year (that’s four seasons for us), you probably won’t ever wear it. It’s in your best interest to admit that skirt will be better loved elsewhere. With that said, donating clothing is super easy- there are even organizations that will pick up donations from your door (see Clothesline Diabetes and OFCP).

2. Keep your wardrobe seasons separate.

By doing so, you can easily swap out your heavy coats for lighter options. When it comes to storing bulkier options, I tend to keep them under my bed in rolling drawers, or in vacuum bags in the overhead of closets. Yes, people other than your grandparents actually use vacuum bags.

3. Ironically, our last rule is to not follow the rules. Let me explain...

This means - yes - you can wear “Fall” colours through all seasons, and any denim wash, any time. Do whatever your heart desires, as long you can do so while avoiding frostbite or overheating.

Here are some tips for transitioning your pieces:

Layer, layer, layer! This is the key to making simple outfits look more put together. Make your summer pieces work double-duty by pairing them with long cardigans, vests, and overcoats until Summer. This also means you won’t feel as bad splurging on some items you can get a longer wear out of.

Find your style uniform. When you narrow your wardrobe down to staple pieces, getting ready in the morning becomes a lot more simple, as does investing in quality pieces you know you’ll wear. For me, I have my go-to black high-waist trousers and white tee that I honestly could not live without. Accessorize around this “uniform” and you’re set!

DIY! For ‘fits you can’t find yourself wearing again (See: those ill-fitting jeans that would work better as shorts), make it work yourself. Follow the blog for an upcoming post about how customize your t-shirts as well.

Check back next week for the second part of our Spring Cleaning Series with tips on how to better organize your space (and life).